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Scouting For Youth With Disabilities

The San Diego-Imperial Council recognizes that no two Scouts are exactly alike; each Scout is unique.
Scouts are not machines who can be steered in exactly the same way, to have fun doing the same activities,
or who learn in the same way from exactly the same instructions. Some Scouts need extra help from trained
leaders.

A Scout is considered to have a "disability" if he or she

The outcomes of theScouting experienceshould be fun andeducational, and not justrelate
to completing rankrequirements that mightplace unrealisticexpectations on amember who has
a disability.

has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities -
seeing, hearing, speaking, walking, breathing, performing manual tasks, learning, caring for oneself, and
working,

has a record of such an impairment, or

is regarded as having such an impairment.

In the discretion of the Executive Board, and under such rules and regulations as it may prescribe upon
consultation with appropriate medical authorities, registration of boys who are either intellectually
disabled or severely physically handicapped, including the blind, deaf, and emotionally disturbed, over age
11 as Cub scouts and over age 18 as Boy Scouts, or Varsity Scouts, and registration of young adults who are
either intellectually disabled or severely physically handicapped, including blind, deaf, and emotionally
disturbed, over age 21 as Venturers, and the participation of each in the respective advancement programs
while registered, is authorized.1

Registering Qualified Members Beyond Age of Eligibility2

Youth and adults who are developmentally disabled, or youth with severe physical challenges, may be
considered for registration beyond the age of eligibility for their program: age 11 or older for a Cub
Scout, 18 or older as a Boy Scout or Varsity Scout, or 21 or older as a Venturer or Sea Scout. An adult of
any age who has developmental disabilities, for example, may be considered for youth membership and join
Scouting if a qualified medical professional is able to correlate cognitive abilities to less than the upper
limit of an eligibility age. Members approved to be so registered are indicated in the system with a
disability code.

A disability, to qualify an individual for registration beyond the age of eligibility, must be permanent
and so severe that it precludes advancement even at a rate significantly slower than considered normal. If
ranks can be achieved under accommodations already provided in official literature, or with modifications as
outlined below, then the disability probably does not rise to the level required.

This is often the case in considering advancement potential for youth who have only moderate learning
disabilities or such disorders as ADD/ADHD. If ranks can be earned, but it just takes somewhat longer,
registration beyond the age of eligibility is not warranted.

Note that registration beyond the age of eligibility is intended as a permanent arrangement to allow
ongoing participation as a youth member in the Scouting program. This is different from a "time extension",
which is available to a young man working toward the Eagle Scout rank should circumstances not due to his
choice or fault arise that preclude achievement before his 18th birthday. Extensions of time are available
only for the Eagle Scout and Quartermaster ranks, and for the Venturing Summit Award. Extensions have
specific end dates and they may or may not involve disabilities.

Possible Criteria for Registering Beyond Age of Eligibility3

In considering registration beyond the age of eligibility, members with conditions such as those listed
below may meet the severity requirement, but every case must be considered individually. If members are able
to take advantage of the flexibility already built into Scouting advancement, and participate in essentially
the same way as typical youth, then they must not be registered beyond the age of eligibility.

Examples of conditions that, if severe, may be criteria for registration beyond the age of eligibility
include these:

Autism spectrum disorders

Blind or sight-impaired

Deaf or hard of hearing

Cognitive disability

Developmental delay

Down syndrome

Emotional or behavioral disorder

Physically disabled

Traumatic Brain Injury

Multiple coexisting disabilities

How to Register a Member Beyond Age of Eligibility4

To register a person who will remain as a youth member beyond the age of eligibility, the following
documents must be assembled and submitted to the local council.

A signed statement from a qualified
health professional attesting to the nature of the disability, its severity, and permanent limitations
connected with it. For physical disabilities, this must be a licensed physician; for developmental or
cognitive issues, a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist, or as appropriate, a neurologist or other
medical professional in a specialty related to the disability.

Other supporting documentation, such as an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), treatment summaries,
etc., which are optional, but can make a difference in the decision.

Young people approved for registration beyond the age of eligibility may continue working on advancement
including the Eagle Scout rank and Eagle Palms, for as long as they continue to be so registered. The local
council or the National Council, upon uncovering evidence that a youth was improperly registered with a
disability code, or for whatever reason no longer meets the required level of severity, may make the
decision to expire the registration. Registration of an adult as a youth member with a disability code may
also be expired if it is determined the registrant has progresses sufficiently to be registered as an
adult.

Advancement Flexibility Allowed5

Cub Scouts, Boy scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers or Sea Scouts who have disabilities may qualify for
limited flexibility in advancement. Allowances possible in each program are outlined below. It does not
necessarily matter if a youth is approved to be registered beyond the age of eligibility. Experience tells
us those members whose parents are involved, or at least regularly consulted, progress the farthest. Some
units have also followed the example set by Individualized Education Plans, and have established "individual
advancement plans" with the same benefits. A sample of such a plan can be found in Scouting for Youth
with Disabilities, No. 34059 available at the Scout Shop.

Cub Scout Program Advancement:

There are no alternative guidelines for Cub Scout Advancement for Scouts with cognitive or emotional
disabilities. However, some modifications may be made since many of the requirements are signed off by the
parents. In keeping with the spirit of the alternative requirements suggested for the Boy Scout program, I
would suggest the following:

Allow the Scout to complete as many standard requirements as possible.

Any modification of requirements should be fostered by the motto "Do Your Best" and allow the Scout to
perform at the highest level of his ability.

The Unit leader and parents should determine appropriate modifications before starting the advancement
process.

Boy Scout Program Advancement:

For the Boy Scouts, all current requirements for an advancement award must be actually met by the
candidate. There are no substitutions or alternatives permitted except those which are specifically stated
in the requirements as set forth in the current official literature of the Boy Scouts of America. Requests
can be made for alternate rank requirements.

Guidelines for Pursuing Alternative Requirements

The physical or mental disability must be of a permanent rather than a temporary nature.

A clear and concise medical statement concerning the Scout's disabilities must be submitted by a
licensed physician. In the alternative, an evaluation statement certified by an educational administrator
may be submitted. For cognitive/emotional disabilities, a statement from a licensed psychologist may be
submitted. The statement must state the doctor's opinion that the Scout cannot complete the requirement(s)
because of a permanent disability.

The Scout, his parents, or leaders must submit to the council advancement committee, a written request
that the Scout be allowed to complete alternative requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, or First
Class rank. The request must explain the suggested alternate requirements in sufficient detail so as to
allow the advancement committee to make a decision. The request must also include the medical statement
required in paragraph two above. The written request for alternate requirements must be submitted to and
approved by the local council prior to completing alternate requirements.

The Scout must complete as many of the regular requirements as his ability permits before applying for
alternate requirements.

The alternate requirements must be of such a nature that they are as demanding of effort as the regular
requirements.

When alternate requirements involve physical activity, they must be approved by the physician.

The unit leader and any board of review must explain that to attain Tenderfoot, Second Class, or First
Class rank a candidate is expected to do his best in developing himself to the limit of his
resources.

The written request must be approved by the council advancement committee, utilizing the expertise of
professional persons involved in Scouting for disabled youth. The decision of the council advancement
committee should be recorded and delivered to the Scout and his leader.

Alternate Merit Badges for the Eagle Scout Rank

The Eagle Scout rank may be achieved by a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or qualified Venturer who has a
physical or mental disability by qualifying for alternate merit badges. This does not apply to individual
requirements for merit badges. Merit badges are awarded only when all requirements are met as stated.

The physical or mental disability must be of a permanent rather than a temporary nature.

A clear and concise medical statement concerning the Scout's disabilities must be made by a physician
licensed to practice medicine, or an evaluation statement must be certified by an educational
administrator.

The candidate must earn as many of the required merit badges as his ability permits before applying for
an alternate Eagle Scout rank merit badge.

The candidate must complete as many of the requirements of the required merit badges as his ability
permits.

The Application for Alternate Eagle Scout Award Merit Badges must be completed prior to qualifying for
alternate merit badges.

The alternate merit badges chosen must be of such a nature that they are as demanding of effort as the
required merit badges.

When alternates chosen involve physical activity, they must be approved by the physician.

The unit leader and the board of review must explain that to attain the Eagle Scout rank, a candidate
is expected to do his best in developing himself to the limit of his resources.

The application must be approved by the council committee responsible for advancement, utilizing the
expertise of professional persons involved in Scouting for people with special needs.

In addition, there are a number of suggested alternatives for required merit badges that may provide a
similar learning experience for the Scout. It is important for Unit leaders to use reasonable accommodation
and common sense in the application of the alternate merit badge program. One reasonable accommodation is
allowing for extended time to complete the requirements.